The New England Patriots will be looking to extend their winning streak to four games and collect their fourth straight road victory Sunday when they visit the Tennessee Titans for Mike McCoy’s first game as Tennessee’s head coach.
McCoy was elevated from senior offensive assistant to interim head coach Monday when the Titans fired Brian Callahan after the team’s 1-5 start. Tennessee had a 4-19 record during Callahan’s stint as head coach.
McCoy served as the San Diego Chargers head coach from 2013-16, and has also spent six seasons as an offensive coordinator in the NFL.
“I like to win,” McCoy said. “Do whatever it takes to win.
“I want these guys to play hard, I want them to play tough and I want them to play together. We have to play complementary football here. … Play four quarters of complementary football. That’s the most important thing.”
Since their 1-2 start, the Patriots (4-2) beat Carolina, Buffalo and New Orleans. The victories against the Bills and Saints both came on the road.
“I would say we’ve put ourselves in a position to play meaningful games, not that they all aren’t meaningful, but certainly focusing on this one on the road,” New England head coach Mike Vrabel said. “Our last one of three (road games), here. I appreciate us not looking too far ahead.
“They just attacked Buffalo, and they figured out what we needed to do against the Saints. … Now we’re focusing on Tennessee and the challenge that presents and seeing if we can’t continue to enhance the things we do well and improve the things we don’t do well. And then eliminate the stuff that could or will or has gotten us beat.”
Vrabel, who is in his first season as New England’s head coach, was Tennessee’s head coach from 2018-23, but was fired after the 2023 season. He had a 54-45 record during his time with Tennessee and guided the Titans to AFC South titles in 2020 and 2021.
New England quarterback Drake Maye has completed 73.2% of his passes this season. He’s 131 of 179 for 1,522 yards with 10 touchdowns and two interceptions.
“He’s playing efficient football,” McCoy said.
Although Tennessee selected Cam Ward with the first pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Titans have struggled on offense through their first six games. Tennessee is averaging 13.8 points per game, which ranks 31st in the NFL, and 232.3 yards per game (32nd).
Ward has started in each of Tennessee’s six games. He’s 111-of-202 passing for 1,101 yards (9.9 yards per completion) with three TDs and four interceptions.
Tennessee’s Calvin Ridley, the team’s top receiver, missed the second half of the Week 6 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders after he sustained a hamstring injury during the second quarter.
Ridley is one of seven Tennessee players who did not practice Wednesday, joining linebacker Arden Key (quadricep), wide receiver Tyler Lockett (non-injury/rest), defensive end James Lynch (shoulder), defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons (non-injury/rest), cornerback L’Jarius Sneed (quadricep) and guard Kevin Zeitler (non-injury/rest).
New England safety Jaylinn Hawkins (hamstring), linebacker Anfernee Jennings (ankle) and linebacker Harold Landry III (ankle) did not practice Wednesday. Defensive tackle Christian Barmore (non-injury), wide receiver Stefon Diggs (chest), offensive tackle Morgan Moses (hip) and cornerback Charles Woods (knee) were limited in practice.
